Apple tree named ‘Howell TC3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apple tree is disclosed. ‘Howell TC3’ is notable for its distinctive fruit, which has yellow skin and red flesh with a sweet/tart flavor.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malusdomestica.

Variety denomination: ‘Howell TC3’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of apple tree ‘Howell TC3’ was created in the course ofa planned breeding program carried out in Prosser, Wash. ‘Howell TC3’originated as a result of an open pollination cross in 2001 of ‘AirlieRed Flesh’ (seed parent, not patented) with the likely pollen parentbeing ‘Honeycrisp’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197, expired). ‘Howell TC3’was selected in 2010 as a single plant from among a population ofseedlings derived from the parents, and was selected for its quality offruit and the red color of the fruit flesh. It is distinguished from itsparents by its yellow skin and red flesh color and by its flavor.Asexual propagation by budding was first carried out in Prosser, Wash.The variety has since been observed over a number of asexuallypropagated generations, and has been found to remain true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Howell TC3’ is a new and distinct apple tree notable for itsdistinctive fruit, which has a red flesh and a sweet/tart flavor. Acomparison of ‘Howell TC3’ to related and similar varieties is shown inTable 1 below.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Howell TC3’ to Related and Similar varieties‘Airlie's ‘Howell ‘Howell Red Flesh’ ‘Honeycrisp’ TC2’* TC3’ Bloom ColorDark pink White Pink Light pink Bloom Timing −2 days 0 +3 days −1 dayFlesh Color Pink Pink Red Red Skin Color Light green Red and green RedYellow Lenticel Color White White White Light yellow Lenticels/in² 15 to25 15 to 25 10 to 20 15 to 20 Fruit Maturity +3 days 0 +7 days +4 daysFruit flavor Crunchy, Crisp, very Crisp, juicy, Crisp, juicy, sweetjuicy, sweet-tart sweet-tart sweet-tart with berry with berry notesnotes Tree Vigor Moderate Non- Non- Moderate vigorous vigorous Fruit inOkay for 2 Stores well Stores well Stores well common storage months for4 months for 4 months for 4 months* ‘Howell TC2’—USPP pending, Ser. No. 14/544,404

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

FIG. 1 shows the blossom from the tree of the new cultivar;

FIG. 2 shows the fruit of the new cultivar on the tree; and

FIG. 3 shows the flesh of the fruit of the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed botanical description is based on observationsmade during the 2013 and 2017 growing seasons at Prosser and Wapato,Wash. All colors are described according to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart as published in 2001. It should be understood thatthe characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon culturalpractices and climatic conditions, and can vary with location andseason. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group ofplants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Semi-vigorous.        -   Size.—Height 9 feet; Spread 4 feet.        -   Trunk.—Diameter at 30 cm above graft union 2.54 cm.        -   Bark texture.—Smooth.        -   Bark coloration.—Gray-brown N199D.        -   Trunk lenticels.—Rectangular, length 2 mm, density 13/in²,            color white 155D.-   Branch:    -   -   Size.—Length 81.3 cm; Diameter 1.27 cm at 1 m above ground.        -   Crotch angle relative to trunk.—60°.        -   Color.—Gray-brown N199D.        -   Branch lenticels.—Round, length 1 mm, density 20/in², color            white 155D.-   Dormant one-year-old shoot:    -   -   Size.—Diameter 0.95 cm, length 71.1 cm.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange 166B.        -   Lenticels.—Rectangular, length 0.5 mm, density 16/in², color            white 155B.        -   Internode length.—3.8 cm.-   Flowers:    -   -   Bud shape.—Cone.        -   Bud length.—0.95 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—0.48 cm.        -   Color at balloon stage.—Red-purple 62A.        -   Diameter of open flower.—3.81 cm.        -   Petal.—Quantity per flower 5.        -   Margin.—Smooth, ruffled.        -   Relative position of petal margin.—Overlapping.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate with rounded apex, cuneate base.        -   Petal length.—2.54 cm.        -   Petal width.—2.54 cm.        -   Color of upper surface.—Red-purple 62A on edges fading to            white 155C in center.        -   Color of lower surface.—Red-purple 62C.        -   Pistil.—1 per flower, length 1.91 cm, color yellow-green            145B.        -   Anther.—21 to 25 per flower.        -   Length—1 mm.        -   Color of pollen.—Yellow 2C.        -   Stigma length.—1 mm.        -   Stigma color.—Yellow-green 145B.        -   Style length.—11 mm.        -   Style color.—Yellow-green 145B.        -   Ovary color.—Green 143A.        -   Bloom period.—First bloom April 22, full bloom April 30 in            Prosser, Wash.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—25 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 147D.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Color.—Upper surface yellow-green 147D, lower surface            yellow-green 148D.        -   Length.—12 mm.        -   Width.—5 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate with pointed apex.        -   Margin.—Smooth.-   Leaf:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface smooth, lower surface veined.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Nearly vertical.        -   Blade margin.—Serrated.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Size.—Length 10.2 cm, width 5.7 cm.        -   Color of upper surface.—Yellow-green 146A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Yellow-green 146D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—2.86 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.32 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 147D.-   Stipules:    -   -   Quantity.—2.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate; Length 15 mm, width 1 mm.        -   Color.—Upper surface yellow-green 147C, lower surface 147D.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Diameter 7.62 cm, height 7 cm.        -   Weight.—0.45 lbs.        -   General shape in profile.—Rounded; Ribbing absent.        -   Crowning at calyx end.—Moderate.        -   Eye basin.—Depth 4 mm, width 20 mm.        -   Stalk.—Length 2.54 cm, width 0.32 cm, color yellow-green            145B; Depth of stalk cavity 1.91 cm; Width of stalk cavity            0.64 cm.        -   Lenticels.—Round, diameter 0.8 mm, density 15 to 20/in²,            white 155B.        -   Ground color of skin.—Yellow-green 145B fading to yellow            11A.        -   Over color of skin.—Red 44C.        -   Pattern of over color.—Blush; Flesh is crisp and very juicy.        -   Flesh color.—Red 50B with white 155B (See FIG. 3).        -   Brix.—15°.        -   Aroma.—Faint.        -   Quantity of seeds.—8-10.        -   Shape of seed.—Acuminate.        -   Seed size.—Length 10 mm, width 5 mm.        -   Seed color.—Greyed-orange 165A.        -   Locules.—5 per fruit, length 15 mm, width 6 mm.        -   Number of fruit per cluster.—About 5.-   Harvest: About 4 days after ‘Honeycrisp’.-   Eating quality: Crisp, juicy, sweet-tart with berry notes.-   Storage characteristics: Stores well in common storage for 4 months.-   Winter hardiness: Hardy in areas tested (Prosser and Wapato, Wash.).-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: None noted.-   Use: Fresh Market and processing.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Apple tree as illustrated and described.